by Natalie Ann
“Does it feel weird coming in here now with another owner?” she asked.
“No. Philip wasn’t here long enough to get attached to it. Nor did he decorate much. But it looks so festive in here. If Livi saw it she’d never leave.”
“It does sort of look like a child did it. But I was having so much fun. It’s the first time I’ve been able to let go with decorations.”
“Hmm,” Blair said and sat down.
“I know you want to ask why. I guess the truth is I’ve never felt like I had a place of my own before. Not like here.”
“Have you always lived in apartments?” Blair asked.
She was debating on what to say. Her new neighbors seemed nice enough. They obviously knew she paid cash for this house, which was a big chunk of money. And they probably wondered what she did since she only worked part time.
“No. I mean I did and then I was married for a short period of time. I divorced earlier in the year and was back in an apartment again. Before that, the house I lived in with my husband, well, it was like a showpiece. I didn’t have much say in the decorating. My ex did most of it. Or the decorators he hired did.”
Blair smiled. “Can I tell you something?”
“Of course.”
“I don’t tell many people this. At least anymore. But I feel like I can confide in you. I always have these dreams and most times they come true. Or parts of them do. Anyway, I had a dream about you the other night. One where you were changing so much in it. Kind of like Cinderella.”
She started to laugh. “Well now. That might be somewhat accurate. I don’t tell too many people who my ex was.”
“Alex Fischer? As in the convenient store empire? I think I remember hearing about the marriage a few years ago and some talk, then a sudden divorce. Part of the gossip that goes on in my shop. I believe a woman named Robin Masters was his ex. I must confess I did a little bit of snooping on that part. When Philip said who’d signed the contract on the house I did a google search and, well, it was right there.”
Robin felt her face flush. She hadn’t been recognized yet. “That’s me. I don’t talk much about it or the divorce.”
Blair reached her hand over and laid it on Robin’s. “I’m not trying to be nosy. Not like you think. It’s just I was curious who was going to be our neighbor more than anything. I didn’t even tell Philip I did that or he’d lecture me,” she said, grinning. “You don’t have to tell me anything.”
“Thanks,” she said and turned to get the coffee ready. “It was a short marriage and a fast divorce.”
“And you were hurt. I’ve been there before. Where you are so in love with someone and maybe they weren’t the person you thought they were.”
She wondered if Blair knew more than she was letting on. “Something like that. Anyway, it’s in my past now.”
“But you’ve got someone else in your future.”
She figured Blair had seen Brian over. “I do. He’s a great guy.”
“You seem very happy. But I’ve got to tell you, in my dreams, there is a guy saving you. Maybe it’s you’re new man, maybe someone else. But it’s Christmastime and you’re standing by yourself and you look up and there is mistletoe over your head. Your man comes up and gives you a kiss and you realize all your dreams are coming true.”
“That’s kind of funny and sweet at the same time.”
She wasn’t about to say it’d always been a dream of hers to be kissed under the mistletoe. That would be silly and maybe it was every little girl’s dream.
“I know,” Blair said and accepted her coffee, then picked up the cream that Robin set out and poured a little.
Once Robin had her coffee in front of her, she sat down on the stool. “I moved here to get away from people or questions.”
“I can understand that too. I’ve been judged a lot. Some of it through my own big mouth.”
She couldn’t imagine. Blair just seemed so nice and down to earth. “I tend to keep to myself.”
“I learned to do that somewhat,” Blair said, laughing. “But I felt I could be honest with you. People have always thought I was odd or quirky. You see, my mother was murdered when I was really young and her best friend was my guardian. My father, Tyler, he adopted me. He’s married to my Pops, Jake.”
“I’m sure that would be strange to some people when you were younger. Now it’s more common.” She’d always thought it was but knew it wasn’t the case for some.
“Common but not always accepted. At least by people I used to date.”
“But Philip has no issues with it?” she asked. “What about your biological father?”
“I came from a Petri dish,” Blair said, laughing.
Now she understood a bit more about why people thought Blair might be a little out there. “Well then.”
“I know. Still, I have a great life. It’s not what most go through, but I wouldn’t change it for anything. And I learned that just because I’m different doesn’t make me a bad person. The right person was out there for me and I found him. It just took time.”
“Thanks,” she said. “For sharing that. I’m hoping the same holds true for me.”
“I think it’s already true for you,” Blair said, smirking over the rim of her coffee cup.
18
Lit The Flame
“So you’re okay with this?” Brian asked. This was the first Christmas that Meena was in Troy’s house and she was determined to have a party. His once shy best friend had caved and said as long as all he had to do was eat and drink, he’d be fine with it.
“Of course. Why would you think otherwise?” Robin asked.
She’d been a little quiet for days and he wasn’t sure what might be going on. “I don’t know,” he said. “We haven’t talked much this week and maybe I wondered if you were having second thoughts.”
“No second thoughts. Just so busy getting the shelter ready for the party tomorrow and making sure everything is just right. Then I had to finish up Christmas shopping. Rick is coming home on Sunday and, well, I’m excited to see him but...”
“A little nervous about what he will think of me?” he asked. He knew what it was like to be a protective older brother, and after what Robin had gone through, he suspected that Rick was more so.
Not to mention how close Robin and Rick were. She was always mentioning she talked to him a lot, went to him for advice, valued his opinion. Brian felt a little self-conscious she might be talking about him when he never worried about those things before.
“Yes and no. I think he’s going to like you, but he might not show it right away.”
“Meaning that he will probably dislike anyone you bring home at first on principle alone?” he asked...he hoped!
“I think so. He knows we are dating, obviously. We talk or text all the time.”
“And what does he say?” Normally he’d never ask, but he was starting to think that he was falling in love with Robin and if he had to win over her older brother he wanted to know everything he could going in.
“Not much.”
But she looked away when she said that. He took her chin in his hands and brought her eyes back to his. “But something?”
“He is just worried someone is taking advantage of me. I told him I’m not that delicate.”
He started to laugh. “You are one of the least delicate people I know.”
She smiled. “I’ll take that as a compliment when many would think it’s an insult.”
“It was meant to be a compliment.”
“You guys are a lot alike. I told him that too. He laughed at me and said he hopes so. But he knows you are aware of everything and we’ve always kept the situation with Alex quiet.”
“Does he think eyes are going to be on you or is he afraid I’m after your money? Which I’m not.”
He didn’t want to deal with this and the only thing he could be happy about was that no one but a few knew what Robin’s wealth was. “I know you’re not. I think we had a spark a
nd I’m the one that lit the flame. I told Rick that too.”
He pulled her close. “We’ll let you think that.”
“You admitted that Meena talked you into coming here. But I’m the one that really invited you to stay for dinner and I’m the one that lured you to my bed.”
He kissed her on the lips. “And I was there for the taking. I’m thankful for everything. For the most part I don’t care what others think, just what you do.”
“Well, I think people can kiss my ass,” she said.
His eyes went wide. “Wow. I like this side of you.”
“Good. Then let me go get dressed and I’m going to show you what I look like in a dress.” She started to walk away and then looked over her shoulder. “A red dress.”
“Seriously?”
“It is a Christmas party you said. I know it’s not fancy, but Meena told me she was wearing a dress. You even have nice pants on and a dress shirt.”
“No tie though,” he said. He told his sister he was drawing the line there. He wore one most days of the week and didn’t want to if he didn’t have to.
He went to sit on the couch and wait while she got dressed and wondered how long he’d have to be sitting here petting the dogs that were looking up at him and wondered why he kept telling them to get off the couch. He didn’t feel like trying to pick dog hair off his clothes before he went.
It wasn’t as long as he thought before he heard the click of heels coming down the hallway and turned to look. Hot damn, she was in a red dress all right. Not clingy or trashy, but simple and pretty and fitted to her body the way a dress should.
It was dipped low enough to be sexy but not enough to be spilling out. She had a black belt on that just drew his eyes to her tiny waist and her slim hips. Nude stockings and black and red printed heels.
“Look at you,” he said, lifting his hand up and twirling his finger in the air.
She did a little spin for him with her arms out. “I was nervous about this dress, but the sales lady said it was perfect for a party like this. I have to admit I do enjoy the way I look in it.”
“And you should. You just take my breath away.”
She moved closer and whispered in his ear. “Then you’re going to love even more what is under it.”
He dropped his forehead to hers. “You’re going to test me tonight, aren’t you?”
“All part of my devious plan to seduce you.”
“I don’t need to be seduced.” Though he was happy she was having fun with this.
“No, but I’ve never felt sexy before. I’ve never had a man react like that over the way I was dressed. It’s empowering in more ways than one.”
He kissed her gently on the lips knowing that if he gave her the kiss he really wanted to he’d end up carrying her to her room and stripping her naked, never making it to the party. He’d rather not deal with his sister’s wrath, though it would be totally worth it.
They let the dogs out, put them in their crate, then locked up and left.
When they pulled into the driveway at Troy and Meena’s, he saw they were only the third car there.
“How many people are coming?” she asked.
“I think just about twenty or so. Troy’s cousin Harris and his wife, Kaelyn, are already here by the looks of the Range Rover. I’m sure they won’t stay long as they’ve got a young child.”
“Harris, the professional pitcher that lives in Paradise Place?” she asked.
“That’s him. I’ve known him for years before he was even a pro athlete since I’ve been friends with Troy since we were kids. He’s a good guy. Very down to earth.”
“That’s good.” They got out of his SUV and made their way to the front. “This is really a cookie cutter development, isn’t it?”
“It is, but Troy likes the convenience of it. I didn’t expect Meena to want to live here, but she’s fine with it. She’s always been wild and different.”’
“She seems pretty down to earth to me,” she said.
“That’s because she is older. But I guess if I looked from the outside, other than her hair, she is a pretty normal person. She definitely livened up Troy, who needed it. He used to be a lot quieter, but never around our family. He is the brother I never had.”
“Was that strange when he started to date your sister?”
“It was,” he said. “I will admit I struggled with it at first. Maybe because they didn’t tell me right away. And if we are being honest, I have a tiny bit of a temper when I’m thrown off guard and let them know what I thought of their little secret. But it all worked out.”
They walked in the house and moved to the back where the other couples were present. Harris and Kaelyn, Meena and Troy, his parents, and Harris’s parents.
“Is Sarah coming?” he asked of Harris’s sister.
“She’ll be here soon,” Harris said.
“Everyone, this is Robin Masters. Robin, this is everyone.” He laughed and then introduced her to those in the room and then did it every time someone else entered the house.
“So you live in Paradise Place?” Kaelyn said, moving closer to them.
“I do. Just a few months. The older end I believe it’s referred to.”
“I grew up over there. I love it and the mature trees,” Kaelyn said. “I have such good memories of living there as a kid. I’m glad that I’ll be able to raise my children there.”
Brian hadn’t thought much of kids in the past, but for some reason all the thoughts in his head were just driving fast toward a life with Robin and he had to wonder how long it’d be before he could convince her to take the trip with him.
19
Watched and Judged
Robin was having a ball. She’d never been to a party like this before. Not one where everyone was just hanging out and having fun. There were no side conversations and whispered words going on.
There wasn’t the fear she was being watched and judged and labeled.
She’d met a bunch of people, they all came forward and welcomed her, and for once she felt like she belonged here.
Never had she felt any ounce of acceptance with Alex’s family. Even with Patrice Fischer who she knew deep down adored her.
Alex’s younger sister tolerated her, but she had her nose up in the air like her brother.
And she had to put that all behind her.
She had a great guy in her life now. One that she was starting to feel more for than she ever thought possible and had to figure out a way to let him know without scaring him away.
Was she nervous over Brian meeting Rick soon? Yep, she was. But she’d put her foot down with her older brother and told him not to be a jerk.
She may confide in her brother and value his opinion, but she didn’t need to be parented or lectured either.
Rick asked her if she was in love with Brian and she wouldn’t answer him. She felt like she should at least say it to Brian first.
Now she was just trying to figure out the right time for that to happen.
“Enjoying yourself?”
She turned to see Meena standing there. “I am. Thank you again. This is so much fun. I wish you would have let me bring something.”
“Heavens no,” Meena said. “If I did then I would have had to cook and I don’t do that so well. Troy is the cook of the house and I told him he didn’t have to do anything other than drink and eat. I have caterers coming. I was thrilled he agreed to the party but we just kept it small. A few coworkers of each of us and family. And it’s hard because we both have a lot of employees.”
“How did that go over?” she asked. “When you had to decide?”
“It wasn’t that hard. Troy had it easier picking a few in the office. For me, most of my staff are younger and out partying. They wouldn’t have come anyway. Just the married ones are here. They say I’m not as much fun as I used to be before I landed Troy.”
“That’s a funny statement.”
Meena winked. “I think I’m getting old, but the t
ruth is, there’s more to it.” Meena turned and clinked her glass. “Can I have everyone’s attention please?”
Robin wasn’t sure what was going on and took a step back. She didn’t want eyes on her when Meena was talking. Brian came over and put his arm around her and pulled her closer.
“Not sure what is going on. Do you know?” she asked Brian.
“With Meena it could be anything,” he said, leaning into her, his lips touching the top of her head. She loved all these little gestures. Ones that said he was claiming her.
Not in a possessive way but in a...loved way.
Yeah. That was it. Loved.
“Now that everyone is looking at me,” Meena said. “I’m going to turn it over to Troy.”
“Thanks a lot,” Troy said. “This was your idea.”
“And we have to do it together,” Meena said, grabbing her husband’s hand.
“Oh boy,” Brian said next to her. “Cover your ears.”
“What?”
“Get ready. I think I know what is going to happen. Meena never does anything small or private.”
She looked at Troy’s face and noticed it was red. Meena placed Troy’s hand on her belly. “We’re having a baby.”
Even though Brian warned her, she should have covered her ears. She hadn’t planned on how loud Troy and Meena’s mother would get.
Once the parents had moved away, Brian walked up and hugged his sister and best friend. “I’m going to be an uncle. I can’t wait,” he said.
Robin hugged Meena and Troy and congratulated them both. Yeah, this was the family type atmosphere she was used to. And she was glad she found love with someone else.
An hour later, she was standing off to the side. Meena, her mother, and Troy’s mom were setting the food up after it had just been delivered. There had been plenty of snacks out that everyone was picking at.
“Having fun?” Brian asked coming up behind her, his hands going around her waist and pulling her close.
“I am.”
“I’m not,” he said.
“What? Why?”